按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
it and grown used to it。 Man grows used to everything； the scoundrel！〃
He sank into thought。
〃And what if I am wrong；〃 he cried suddenly after a moment's
thought。 〃What if man is not really a scoundrel； man in general； I
mean； the whole race of mankind… then all the rest is prejudice；
simply artificial terrors and there are no barriers and it's all as it
should be。〃
Chapter Three
HE WAKED up late next day after a broken sleep。 But his sleep had
not refreshed him； he waked up bilious； irritable； ill…tempered； and
looked with hatred at his room。 It was a tiny cupboard of a room about
six paces in length。 It had a poverty…stricken appearance with its
dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls； and it was so low…pitched
that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and
felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling。
The furniture was in keeping with the room： there were three old
chairs； rather rickety； a painted table in the corner on which lay a
few manuscripts and books； the dust that lay thick upon them showed
that they had been long untouched。 A big clumsy sofa occupied almost
the whole of one wall and half the floor space of the room； it was
once covered with chintz； but was now in rags and served Raskolnikov
as a bed。 Often he went to sleep on it； as he was； without undressing；
without sheets； wrapped in his old student's overcoat； with his head
on one little pillow； under which he heaped up all the linen he had；
clean and dirty； by way of a bolster。 A little table stood in front of
the sofa。
It would have been difficult to sink to a lower ebb of disorder； but
to Raskolnikov in his present state of mind this was positively
agreeable。 He had got completely away from every one； like a
tortoise in its shell； and even the sight of the servant girl who
had to wait upon him and looked sometimes into his room made him
writhe with nervous irritation。 He was in the condition that overtakes
some monomaniacs entirely concentrated upon one thing。 His landlady
had for the last fortnight given up sending him in meals； and he had
not yet thought of expostulating with her； though he went without
his dinner。 Nastasya； the cook and only servant； was rather pleased at
the lodger's mood and had entirely given up sweeping and doing his
room； only once a week or so she would stray into his room with a
broom。 She waked him up that day。
〃Get up； why are you asleep！〃 she called to him。 〃It's past nine；
I have brought you some tea； will you have a cup？ I should think
you're fairly starving？〃
Raskolnikov opened his eyes； started and recognized Nastasya。
〃From the landlady； eh？〃 he asked； slowly and with a sickly face
sitting up on the sofa。
〃From the landlady； indeed！〃
She set before him her own cracked teapot full of weak and stale tea
and laid two yellow lumps of sugar by the side of it。
〃Here； Nastasya； take it please；〃 he said； fumbling in his pocket
（for he had slept in his clothes） and taking out a handful of coppers…
〃run and buy me a loaf。 And get me a little sausage； the cheapest；
at the pork…butcher's。〃
〃The loaf I'll fetch you this very minute； but wouldn't you rather
have some cabbage soup instead of sausage？ It's capital soup；
yesterday's。 I saved it for you yesterday； but you came in late。
It's fine soup。〃
When the soup had been brought； and he had begun upon it； Nastasya
sat down beside him on the sofa and began chatting。 She was a
country peasant…woman and a very talkative one。
〃Praskovya Pavlovna means to complain to the police about you；〃
she said。
He scowled。
〃To the police？ What does she want？〃
〃You don't pay her money and you won't turn out of the room。
That's what she wants； to be sure。〃
〃The devil； that's the last straw；〃 he muttered； grinding his teeth；
〃no； that would not suit me。。。 just now。 She is a fool；〃 he added
aloud。 〃I'll go and talk to her to…day。〃
〃Fool she is and no mistake； just as I am。 But why； if you are so
clever； do you lie here like a sack and have nothing to show for it？
One time you used to go out； you say； to teach children。 But why is it
you do nothing now？〃
〃I am doing。。。〃 Raskolnikov began sullenly and reluctantly。
〃What are you doing？〃
〃Work。。。〃
〃What sort of work？〃
〃I am thinking；〃 he answered seriously after a pause。
Nastasya was overcome with a fit of laughter。 She was given to
laughter and when anything amused her； she laughed inaudibly；
quivering and shaking all over till she felt ill。
〃And have you made much money by your thinking？〃 she managed to
articulate at last。
〃One can't go out to give lessons without boots。 And I'm sick of
it。〃
〃Don't quarrel with your bread and butter。〃
〃They pay so little for lessons。 What's the use of a few coppers？〃
he answered； reluctantly； as though replying to his own thought。
〃And you want to get a fortune all at once？〃
He looked at her strangely。
〃Yes； I want a fortune；〃 he answered firmly； after a brief pause。
〃Don't be in such a hurry； you quite frighten me！ Shall I get you
the loaf or